Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies introduces students to the processes by which gender and sexuality are socially constructed in different historical, geographical, and cultural contexts, with particular attention to the intersection of gender and sexuality with other categories of difference such as race, class, ability, religion, and national origin. WGSS majors gain a broad understanding of feminist and queer thinking and activism. They learn to use interdisciplinary methodologies for feminist and queer research and pursue a deeper understanding of the issues that interest them through the development of an area of concentration and a senior capstone project. WGSS also offers three minors (women’s studies, queer studies, and women’s leadership and social change) that complement any major.

The WGSS major and minors emphasize the development of skills in critical and creative thinking, interdisciplinary research, and written and verbal communication. In addition to engaging with feminist and queer histories, cultural production, and political movements, students learn to apply an analysis of gender and sexuality to a broad range of topics. Our students pursue careers and graduate study in diverse fields like education, social work, medicine, law, community activism, religious studies, literature, and the arts. The flexibility offered by the WGSS major enables students to tailor their education to their own interests and goals while providing them with a strong foundation in feminist and queer approaches to knowing and shaping the world.

Program Goals

Students should understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures.

Students should understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories.

Students will learn to think critically.

Major

Minor

An introduction to basic women's studies concepts and theories, drawing on methodologies and content of multiple disciplines. The course will explore differences as well as commonalities of women's experiences, and provide a foundation for more advanced work in women's studies.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify examples in course texts which demonstrate race, class, gender, and sexuality as dynamic rather than fixed categories pervasively influenced by societal expectations; students will describe the diverse ways in which ideologies of race and gender are produced, transformed, and maintained by systems of power and privilege in the lives of women identified persons

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Introduced)

Students will define the concept of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender and race in course texts.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Introduced)

Students will identify and explain examples drawn from course texts which illustrate the ways that marginalized groups have resisted power through social movements, artistic expressions and scholarship.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Introduced)

Student will grapple with, discuss, and analyze a variety of key historical and contemporary texts produced by marginalized groups and compare them with dominant perspectives.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Introduced)

Students will engage in constructive discussion around issues of marginalization both in the local and global context and will examine how their own social location shapes their perspectives on the racial and gender identities of others.

General Education Goals:

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify the different impacts of race, class, gender, and sexuality on the lives of women and show how they relate to course topics

Students will be able to identify commonalities in women's experiences despite difference of race, class, gender, and sexuality on the lives of women and show how they relate to course topics

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify theories of gender and show how they relate to course topics.

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify a variety of historical and contemporary understandings of the term "feminism" and the effects of feminist thought as demonstrated in course topics.

WGSS 072: Introduction to Queer Studies (4 Credits)

An introduction to key concepts and theoretical questions in the interdisciplinary field of queer studies. This course explores the processes by which sexuality is socially constructed in different historical and geographical contexts, with particular attention to the ways in which sexuality intersects with other categories of difference such as race, gender, class, ability, and national origin. The course introduces students to a range of issues affecting different queer communities and explores historical and contemporary examples of queer resistance.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Introduced)

Students can demonstrate an understanding of social construction and cite examples of how race, gender, sexuality, and ability are socially constructed in relation to each other.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Introduced)

Students demonstrate the ability to analyze intersectionality in a textual or historical example.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Introduced)

Students demonstrate a familiarity with approaches different queer social movements have taken to creating social change.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Introduced)

Student will be able to understand and apply queer critiques of heteronormativity.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Introduced)

Students will engage in class discussions and collaborative projects in order to deepen their understanding of race, gender, ability, and sexuality.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced)

Be able to discuss culture and cultural identities as fluid and dynamic, and be able to cite some examples of how gender and sexuality shape and are shaped by particular cultures and cultural identities.

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Introduced)

Be able to explain and apply the concept of intersectionality, particularly how the social construction of sexuality has been shaped by racism and colonialism.

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Introduced)

Be able to discuss how queer people of color have challenged oppression both within communities of color and throughout U.S. society.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced)

Identify the different impacts that race, class, gender, and sexuality have in shaping the lives of women.

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Introduced)

Be able to discuss different approaches to the social construction of gender and the relationship amongst gender, sex, and sexuality.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced)

Be able to identify and discuss contemporary and historical issues affecting transgender individuals.

WGSS 101: Feminist and Queer Research Methodologies (4 Credits)

This course explores interdisciplinary methodological approaches to feminist and queer research. The course will pay specific attention to feminist and queer critiques of dominant modes of knowledge production; approaches to studying gender and sexuality in different historical, geographical, and cultural contexts; and the relationship between research and activism. Over the course of the term, students will develop the theoretical and methodological tools for doing feminist and queer research in preparation for embarking on their senior project.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how different methodological approaches enable the study of race and gender as socially constructed, intersectional structures of power. This understanding will inform the research projects they design in the course.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze the relationship between race, gender and other categories of difference in their readings of texts and in their own research projects.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Student will explore and analyze research conducted by marginalized groups and research that analyzes the participation of marginalized groups in social movements and cultural production.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how knowledge functions as a structure of power and of methodological approaches developed by marginalized groups to challenge dominant knowledge structures.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to engage in critical discussions of texts and to effectively present their own research in writing and orally.

Written & Oral Comm II

Students will develop skills in writing, digital presentation, and oral communication, as complementary and equal parts of college-level communication and literacy. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to present their own research projects in writing and orally and will use digital tools to aid in their presentation.

Students will be able to move easily and fluently between different rhetorical expectations and formal registers. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to identify and employ the different tones, styles, and structures of writing employed by scholars from different disciplinary perspectives.

Students will develop and refine their own voice and sense of style. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an ability to present their research in their own scholarly voice and style.

Students will practice and refine different forms of communication that are appropriate for the multiple contexts and disciplines that they engage with. (Practiced)

Students will analyze the different forms of communication used in different disciplinary approaches to feminist and queer research and will experiment with these forms in their own writing.

Students will understand thoroughly the relationship between form and content, (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the form that research is presented in and the content of that research.

Students will understand the role of drafting, revising, presenting, and receiving, processing and using feedback as important parts of the writing process. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an ability to draft, revise, provide feedback to peers, and present their work.

General Education Goals:

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze how well different research methodologies are able to address the differences amongst women.

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the theoretical assumptions about gender inherent in different kinds of research methodologies.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the relationship between research about gender and sexuality and contemporary and historical forms of feminist and queer activism.

Written Communication II

A. Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of rhetorical forms and how these forms are used in specific academic disciplines, cultural contexts, and institutions outside the academy (Practiced)

Student will be able to critically read and write about different disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge production about gender and sexuality.

B. Write clearly organized essays with the following characteristics: effective paragraphing, thesis development, transitions, use and interpretation of evidence, evidence of larger structure and organization (Practiced)

Students will be able to write research papers that have a strong thesis, are clearly written and organized, and draw upon and interpret evidence in order to support their larger argument.

C. Write essays that incorporate examples from other writers, demonstrate critical thinking and interpretation about the ideas of other writers, and use correct documentation for these examples (Practiced)

Students will be able to incorporate a broad range of scholarly perspectives in their research papers and will correctly document the sources that they draw upon.

D. Use draft and revision processes, demonstrate understanding of different stages of the writing process, and engage in editing and revision of peer essays (Practiced)

Students will write and revise multiple drafts of their research proposals and papers and engage in peer review of each other's work.

E. Write in a style that is both personally expressive and compatible with the specific discipline or context of the project (Practiced)

Students will write research papers that both communicate their own ideas and contribute to scholarly discourse in their fields.

Produce essays and other forms of writing free from sentence level error and identify where to get further information about such errors (e.g., how to use a handbook) (Practiced)

Through editing and peer review, students will learn to produce grammatically correct papers.

Be familiar with and able to use the tools and resources of an academic library in addition to Internet resources (Practiced)

Students will use library search engines to compile and collect sources related to their own research projects.

Be competent in the use of the citation style appropriate to a discipline (Practiced)

Students will correctly use the appropriate citation style in their final research papers.

WGSS 105: Sexuality and the City (3 Credits)

Urbanization has been a major catalyst in the development of new sexual identities and communities. This course examines this phenomenon and the ways in which the city has been an important place in queer history and politics. Specific issues we will look at include: urban politics, urban migration, segregation, redevelopment and gentrification, homelessness, public housing, access to public space, and policing and criminalization. The course will pay specific attention to queer communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how racial, gender, and sexual identities have shifted and changed over time and space in the context of urban development in the U.S.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how sexual identities are shaped by race and gender.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with social movements led by marginalized communities to transform how resources are distributed and space is organized in U.S. cities.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role that intellectual work and cultural production from marginalized communities played in struggles to make claim to urban space.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to discuss texts about race, gender and sexuality critically and thoughtfully with their peers.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how different sexual cultures developed and changed in relation to historical transformations in U.S. cities.

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a historical understanding of how racial inequality is produced in reproduced in urban environments.

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with social movements and other strategies of resistance that have challenged the racial organization of urban space.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the history of lesbian cultures in urban spaces.

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze how women from different race, class and immigration backgrounds are differently affected by the urban policies covered in class.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze social issues pertaining to struggles over urban space and have an understanding of how these issues are gendered issues.

WGSS 106: Postcolonial Feminist Theory and Literature (3-4 Credits)

This course focuses on key theoretical concepts in postcolonial feminism to examine the relationship between postcoloniality and gender, power and race in the context of de-colonial struggle. We will study the different ways in which postcolonial encounters in South Asia and Africa are shaped by the violence of coloniality in the context of war, migration, diaspora, and gender ideologies. partition and bordering, diaspora, among other framings. We will use literature and cinema to highlight the important transnational feminist cartographies of solidarity and resist.

Meets the following Core requirements: Critical Analysis, International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in postcolonial societies

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking by logically challenging prevailing colonial assumptions and knowledge and generating informed ideas

Core Goals:

Critical Analysis

Students will critically analyze information and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will compare and contrast postcolonial feminist theory and literature from different geographical and cultural areas.

Students will examine issues from multiple perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will be able to use the basic tool of postcolonial feminist theory to examine feminist literary production in different areas of Africa and South Asian from a comparative, cross-cultural perspective

Students will engage in an exploration of the relationship between past systems of knowledge and present scholarly and creative approaches within and across disciplines. (Practiced)

students will be able to compare and contrast the cultural perspectives and interpretations of early postcolonial feminist thinkers with contemporary theories, especially those that emerged in the second half of the 20th Century.

Students will consider how our understanding of significant questions and ideas is informed by the critical, scholarly, and creative approaches through which we approach those questions and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate how different postcolonial feminist cultures developed and changed both in relation to and in reaction to colonial and neo-colonial structures of power. They will use literature, film and theory as the medium of analysis.

Students will develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information. (Practiced)

Students will use the guidelines of responsible scholarship outlined by postcolonial feminist scholar Chandra Mohanty in their papers, document their sources, and examine author intentionality.

Students will engage as active participants in the College's intellectual community. (Practiced)

Students will organize a mini-symposium to share their research at the end of the semester.
They will participate in campus-wide discussions on feminist methodologies from the global south, de-colonial resistance and anti-colonial/anti-racist theory.

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the way they are taught to understand race, gender and power in the West. They will demonstrate an ability to contrast this knowledge with understandings of power relations in a global context - South Asia and Africa, in particular.

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will analyze contemporary postcolonial feminist theory from Africa and South Asia through literature and film

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Practiced)

students will get a through exposure to the complexities of postcolonial feminist literary and critical thought in the global south

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate familiarity with theoretical, literary and cultural perspectives from feminist groups in regions of the world outside the US.

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how gender, power and race were socially constructed through colonialism, postcolonialism and nationalism.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the social construction of race and gender is shaped by history, sexuality, class, citizenship, geography and nationality

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with examples of how marginalized communities have challenged state and colonial power systems through popular culture, resistance movements, gender solidarities, and critical scholarship

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will be able to engage with de-colonial theories of feminist resistance and subaltern subjectivity in relation to hegemonic structures of power

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to critically and respectfully discuss and write about postcolonial feminist texts and their engagement with questions of race, gender, coloniality, and resistance.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate how different postcolonial feminist cultures developed and changed both in relation to and in reaction to colonial and neo-colonial structures of power

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of and current debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism, particularly with regard to racism and anti-racism (Practiced)

Students will learn about critical race theory and its intersections with postcolonial feminist theory in the framing of identity, citizenship and postitionality

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Practiced)

Students will critically analyse postcolonial feminist literature and cinema to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the extent to which different postcolonial feminist theories are able to address the differences between different communities of women

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the relationship between postcolonial feminist theory and contemporary forms of feminist de-colonial resistance and solidarity

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the theoretical assumptions of postcolonial feminism in different theories of postcoloniality

WGSS 109: Comparative Studies on Women in Religion (3 Credits)

An introduction to basic concepts and theories which address women and gender in voodoo, Native American traditions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions drawing on methodologies and content of multiple disciplines. Attitudes toward the body will be examined in a comparative context as will the meaning of gender in religious symbolism, myth, and ritual. This course will explore gender roles in religion as dynamic rather than fixed categories and will provide a foundation for more advanced work on the topics of women, gender, and sexuality in religious traditions.

Meets the following Core requirements: Critical Analysis, International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Critical Analysis

Students will critically analyze information and ideas. (Introduced)

The student will apply the ideas and theories of scholarly work on women in religion to empirical and ethnographic data from a variety of local and global religious traditions such as Vodou, Cherokee, Yurok, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Yoruba.

Students will examine issues from multiple perspectives. (Introduced)

The student will examine constructions of gender and sexuality, particularly with reference to belief systems, across a variety of locations (for example, Benin, Haiti, USA, Israel, Syria, Egypt, France), communities, and time periods.

Students will engage in an exploration of the relationship between past systems of knowledge and present scholarly and creative approaches within and across disciplines. (Introduced)

The student will consider how literary and artistic texts from historic and current periods are both grounded in and disruptive of religious, ethnic, and geographic boundaries. The student will examine how common texts--both literary and artistic--and their interpretations change across chronological periods and geographical locations.

Students will consider how our understanding of significant questions and ideas is informed by the critical, scholarly, and creative approaches through which we approach those questions and ideas. (Introduced)

Students will question and challenge traditional disciplinary boundaries and assumptions in studying how religious, gender, and sexual identities emerge and are expressed. Students will ground their study utilizing both emic and etic perspectives as well as methodological framing that includes structural framing (social, political, legal, and economic dimensions) and the associated cultural dimensions (literary, artistic, musical, dance and other forms of human expression)

Students will develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information. (Introduced)

Students will document their sources, use proper syntax and formatting, and adhere to the rules of responsible scholarship.

Students will engage as active participants in the College's intellectual community. (Introduced)

Students will be encouraged to attend at least one on-campus event that relates to the intersection of women and religion.

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Introduced)

Student will demonstrate an understanding of how they were taught to regard non-western cultural and theoretical systems in the West, particularly with regard to the categories of religion and gender. Students will demonstrate an ability to contrast their own understanding with perspectives from one or more of different cultures covered in the course.

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Introduced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze cross-cultural theories of gender, sexuality, and religion through cultural production, scholarly work, literature, and art from non-Western national contexts and be able to identify how these perspectives differ from dominant perspectives in the U.S.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Introduced)

The student will apply the ideas and theories of scholarly work on women in religion to empirical and ethnographic data from Voodoo, Native America traditions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Introduced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from cultures outside the United States such as Haiti, Syria, Israel, Mexico, Egypt.

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Introduced)

The student will identify examples in course texts which demonstrate race and gender identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained by systems of power and privilege

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Introduced)

Students will define the theory of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender and sexuality in course texts.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Introduced)

The student will identify and explain examples drawn from course texts which illustrate the use of religion as a tool to support group formation and cohesion in diaspora and to resist racism and discrimination.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Introduced)

Student will grapple with, discuss, and analyze a variety of key historical and contemporary texts produced by marginalized groups and compare them with dominant perspectives.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Introduced)

Students will engage in constructive discussion around issues of marginalization both in the local and global context and will examine how their own social location shapes their perspectives on the religious and gender identities of others.

General Education Goals:

Human Institutions & Behavior

Have a command of the basic concepts from one of the disciplines (Introduced)

The students will identify basic concepts from the discipline of gender and sexuality studies.

Apply basic findings from one of the disciplines (Introduced)

The student will apply the ideas and theories of scholarly work on women in religion to empirical and ethnographic data from Voodoo, Native America traditions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions.

Recognize that human behavior is affected by factors ranging from the psychological to the global (Introduced)

The student will identify influences of colonization, racialization, and global economies on the religious structures and rituals of colonized peoples.

The student will identify examples of both charismatic and hierarchical sources of religious authority in the course texts.

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced)

The student will identify examples in course texts which demonstrate cultures and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Introduced)

The student will identify and explain examples drawn from course texts which illustrate the use of religion as a tool to support group formation and cohesion in diaspora and to resist racism and discrimination.

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Introduced)

The student will consider how literary and artistic texts are both grounded in and disruptive of religious, ethnic, and geographic boundaries.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced)

Students will define the theory of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender and sexuality in course texts.

The student will identify theoretical studies of gender, body, sexuality, and religious identity and appropriately apply them in interpreting course texts.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced)

Students will demonstrate the ability to critically debate past and contemporary issues with regard to women and religion.

WGSS 110: Sex, Body, and Gender in Early European Societies (3 Credits)

This course explores the intersections of body, sexuality, and gender in Western culture from late antiquity through early modern Europe. Beginning with the common heritage of late antiquity, the course moves into the diversity of constructions of femininity, masculinity, and the range of sexualities in pre-modern Europe. As concepts of body, sex, and gender are heavily influenced by religious belief systems, readings for each section will be drawn from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim (Iberian Peninsular) sources including the use of gender and sexuality in formulations of the religious “other.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Students will identify ways in which ethnic, religious, gender, and sexual identities were constructed and maintained in early European societies by political, economic, artistic, cultural, philosophical, and social factors.

Critique existing analyses of earlier eras (Introduced)

Students will use critical tools and primary texts to challenge prevailing assumptions and stereotypes regarding body, sex, and gender in Jewish, Christian, Muslim communities of pre-modern Europe

Students will analyze religious texts (in translation) and their interpreters both in their historic and social contexts and from a range of theoretical and critical perspectives.

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will compare intertextualities across the religious writings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and analyze the pliability of such shared narratives for different local constructions of gender, sexuality, and the religious "other."

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Introduced)

Students will investigate how religious texts are used to construct and defend cultures and cultural identities across geographic boundaries.

Students will explore the intersections of class, gender, sexuality, and religious identity as they occur in literary texts

Describe how two or more ethnic groups have interacted in different historical contexts, and be able to discuss the dynamics of that relationship (Introduced, Practiced)

Compare Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives on body, sex, and gender and illustrate how these thought systems influenced gender constructions, sexual identities, and interfaith relations in pre-modern European societies.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will define the theory of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender and sexuality in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities of pre-modern Europe.

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Introduced)

The student will identify theoretical studies of gender, body, sexuality, and religious identity as applied to medieval and early modern culture.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will describe the various discourses on body, sex, and gender in early European societies and hypothesize the continuing influence of those discourses on current social issues pertaining to sexuality and gender.

WGSS 111: Women, Gender and Cultural Production in the Global South (3-4 Credits)

This course examines the intersections between race, class, gender, sexuality, power and resistance in the framing of cultural production from the global south. We will study the intellectual roots of woman-centered cultural systems and the relationship between culture, identity, and social change. Major topics include social justice theatre, the women of Negritude, South Asian women film directors and diaspora cinema, the role of documentaries in social critique, testimonial literature as subaltern history, border poetics, and feminist eco-criticism.

Meets the following Core requirements: Critical Analysis, International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will critically examine literary and cultural texts through the perspectives of postcolonial theory, transnational feminist theory and critical cultural studies theory. They will apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of art, literature, music, film and testimonial literature

Students will examine issues from multiple perspectives. (Practiced)

This course is interdisciplinary and cross-cultural in its focus. The students will examine issues from postcolonial, transnational, feminist and race theory perspectives.

Students will engage in an exploration of the relationship between past systems of knowledge and present scholarly and creative approaches within and across disciplines. (Practiced)

Students will engage in an exploration of how colonial systems of power and cultural dominance also created subversive strategies of resistance in different cultural spheres. They will demonstrate an understanding of the dialectical relationship between the coloniality of power and de-colonial resistance in cultural forms

Students will consider how our understanding of significant questions and ideas is informed by the critical, scholarly, and creative approaches through which we approach those questions and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will engage with current discourses on cultural studies in the global South and use this knowledge to further their own understanding of cultural studies as an interdisciplinary, multi-lingual and cross-cultural discipline. They will use this knowledge in the analysis of literary and cultural texts in this class and other classes as well

Students will develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will adhere to the rules of responsible scholarship by participating in discussions respectfully, documenting their sources through footnotes and bibliographies, and using academic sources in their papers and presentations

Students will create final cultural projects related to the course and present them to the community

Students will engage as active participants in the College's intellectual community. (Practiced)

Students will create one oral presentation in which they will share their ideas with the class

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the way that they are taught to understand cultural studies in the West and an ability to contrast this understanding with understandings of cultural theory and representation from the global South

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze cultural and literary production and intellectual work from a global South perspective and identity how these perspectives differ from dominant US perspectives

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of cultural production in francophone and anglophone locations in the Caribbean, Africa and India

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of global South cultural studies theory in the fields of literature, music, cinema, art, subaltern history, social justice theatre and feminist eco-critique

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how race, gender and power are socially constructed through processes of colonialism, nationalism and postcolonialism

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of intersectionality theory and its applicability to cultural studies theory

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have engaged in de=colonial struggles through cultural production, social movements, political resistance, scholarly and creative work, and the development of transnational solidarities

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with the theoretical aspects of cultural production from the global South and be able to contrast this knowledge with the ways in which these cultures are misrepresented in dominant discourses on race, identity, culture and power

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will use intersectionality theory in their written and oral assignments

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Practiced, Mastered)

Analyze cultural texts from different ethnic traditions in the global South

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Practiced, Mastered)

Apply theoretical concepts of cultural studies theory to the analysis of historical and cultural texts

Describe how two or more ethnic groups have interacted in different historical contexts, and be able to discuss the dynamics of that relationship (Practiced, Mastered)

Use cross-cultural analysis and comparative approaches to cultural dynamics between different groups

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Practiced, Mastered)

Analyze and apply critical race and resistance theory in written assignments, presentations and discussions

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of and current debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism, particularly with regard to racism and anti-racism (Practiced, Mastered)

Engage in sensitive and culturally informed comparative analysis

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Practiced, Mastered)

Read and critique literature, testimonial narratives, cultural studies and postcolonial theory and transnational feminism inn both written and oral work

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Practiced, Mastered)

Analyze the cultural production of women from the global South with an emphasis on Africa, India and the Caribbean

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced, Mastered)

Analyse key texts in transnational cultural feminist studies

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Practiced, Mastered)

Analyse and discuss the work of key cultural theorists from the global South

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced, Mastered)

Examine the history of transnational feminist cultural production from the global South

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Practiced, Mastered)

This intensive reading and discussion seminar explores how factors such as race, gender, class, colonialism, and concepts of human-environment relations help shape the often contradictory definitions of &quot;environmentalism.&quot; We will explore the ideas and assumptions behind issues and movements such as environmental justice, ecofeminism, deep ecology, biotechnology, the population debate, and sustainable development. Readings include both international and U.S. perspectives, and represent competing viewpoints.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Practiced)

Analyze and critique diverse works on environmentalism in terms of how they conceptualize marginalized groups, and how that influences their policy implications. Weekly response papers. Discussion of readings.

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Practiced)

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Practiced)

Critique works by and about peoples of color and women that deal with concepts of human-nature relationships. Weekly response papers. Discussion of readings.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Practiced)

Analyze, compare, and critique the varying concepts of gender and eco-feminism, particular with regard to difference due to race, class, and nationality. Weekly response papers. Discussions of readings.

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Practiced)

Critique various theories of gender as they relate to environmental thought and practice. Weekly response papers. Discussion of readings.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

This course examines how race, gender, sexuality and ability shape the organization of care. Simultaneously a site of love and exploitation, intimacy and subordination, kindness and coercion, caring labor presents many contradictions. The course focuses on approaches to theorizing care within Marxist feminism, postcolonial theory, disability studies and queer studies. The course highlights social movements by caregivers and people in need of care, care within queer communities, and other utopian visions of a caring society.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced)

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when engaged in experiential learning.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will learn how our ideas of care are embedded in race and gender and how these have shifted and changed in different contexts.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will have some understanding of how race and gender intersect with sexuality, disability, citizenship, and nationality.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will develop an understanding of how women of color caring workers have engaged in social movements to transform the conditions of their labor.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will understand key feminist, queer, and disability studies theories about care.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will locate themselves in discussions about how different groups are located in social and economic hierarchies.

General Education Goals:

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role that women play as caregivers and the significance of the labor.

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced)

Student will show an understanding of the different experiences women have as both caregivers and receivers of care in their written work. They will engage with how race, nationality, class, and ability shape these experiences.

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of Marxist feminist theory and queer theoretical approaches to understanding care.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

Students will develop an analysis of issues such as the exploitation of women workers, the social construction of caring labor as feminine, and ableism as a gendered form of oppression.

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Practiced)

Students will have an understanding of the impacts of feminist thinking about care on social movements and policy.

WGSS 131: Women in Islam (3 Credits)

Since medieval times, nothing about Islam has perplexed the West more than the role of women. This course examines foundational Islamic texts (in translation) regarding women and gender, interpretations based on those texts, and historical evidence of women’s religious and social activities from the sixth century to the present. Discourses around the body-- including sexuality, purity, seclusion, and dress--will be examined in a comparative context. Finally we will consider the Western media treatment of Muslim women before analyzing their active participation in modern revivalist movements.

Meets the following Core requirements: Critical Analysis, International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Critical Analysis

Students will critically analyze information and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will use critical tools to analyze and debate competing positions and narratives regarding the historical and contemporary role of women in Islam.

Students will examine issues from multiple perspectives. (Introduced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to contrast their own understanding with perspectives from one or more of the different cultures Muslim cultures covered in the class.

Students will engage in an exploration of the relationship between past systems of knowledge and present scholarly and creative approaches within and across disciplines. (Practiced)

Students will identify and analyze the ways in which gender structures have historically and currently been constructed and maintained in Islam by political, economic, artistic, cultural, philosophical, and social factors.

Students will consider how our understanding of significant questions and ideas is informed by the critical, scholarly, and creative approaches through which we approach those questions and ideas. (Introduced)

Students will question and challenge traditional disciplinary boundaries and assumptions in studying how religious, gender, and cultural identities emerged and have been expressed in Islam.. Students will ground their study utilizing both emic and etic perspectives as well as methodological framing that includes structural factors (social, political, legal, and economic dimensions) and the associated cultural dimensions (literary, artistic, musical, dance and other forms of human expression)

Students will develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information. (Introduced)

Students will document their sources, use proper syntax and formatting, and adhere to the rules of responsible scholarship

Students will engage as active participants in the College's intellectual community. (Introduced)

Students will be encouraged to attend at least one on-campus event that relates to the intersection of women and Islam.

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which western media influences their understanding of Islam, particularly with regard to women in Islam.

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will engage with the scholarly and creative work of a variety of Muslim women regarding the place of women in Muslim history, religious thought, politics, arts, and economics and be able to identify how these perspectives differ from dominant non-Muslim perspectives in the U.S.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of a variety of historical and current Muslim cultures and civilizations outside the United States.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from Muslim women from a variety of time periods and geographical locations outside the U.S.

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Introduced)

The student will identify examples in course texts which demonstrate race, gender, and religious identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories;

Students will identify and analyze the ways in which gender in Islam--and misunderstanding regarding that topic--have been constructed and maintained by political, economic, cultural, and social factors.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will define the theory of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender at specific locations in historical and contemporary Islam.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Introduced)

Students will identify and explain examples drawn from course texts which illustrate the use of Muslim identity as a tool to support group formation and cohesion in diaspora and to resist colonialism,racism and discrimination, particularly as it is manifested in Islamophobia.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Student will grapple with, discuss, and analyze a variety of key historical and contemporary texts produced by Muslim women and compare them with dominant perspectives on women in Islam.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Introduced)

Students will engage in constructive discussion around issues of Muslim marginalization both in local and global contexts and will examine how their own social location shapes their perspectives regarding the religious and gender identities of others.

Students will identify and analyze the ways in which gender structures have been constructed and maintained in Islam by political, economic, artistic, cultural, philosophical, and social factors.

Critique existing analyses of earlier eras (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will use critical tools to analyze and debate competing positions and narratives regarding the historical role of women in Islam.

Use critical tools to assess historical source materials (Introduced)

Students will refer to and explain primary sources taking into account their social, geographic, and historical contexts.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will define the theory of intersectionality and apply it to the construction and performance of gender at specific locations in historical and contemporary Islam.

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will demonstrate the ability to critically debate past and contemporary issues with regard to women in Islam

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Introduced)

Students will describe and analyze Western feminists' critiques of Islam and Muslim feminists' critiques of Western based feminism.

WGSS 135: Race, Sexuality, and the State (3 Credits)

This course examines the intersections of race and sexuality in processes of US state building and struggles over the meaning of citizenship. Focusing on the welfare system, immigration control, the military, and the criminal justice system, it looks at how the institutions that have exhibited the most control over people of color have engaged in some of the severest practices of sexual and gender regulation. The course explores queer theorizations of state power and the implications of centering issues such as welfare, immigration, militarism, and criminal justice within queer politics.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Introduced, Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an understanding of the role that the state plays in the social construction of race, gender, and sexuality.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the social construction of race and gender is shaped by sexuality, class, citizenship, and nationality.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with examples of how marginalized groups have challenged state power through legal cases, social movements, cultural production, and scholarly critique.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate a familiarity with theoretical perspectives on state power developed by marginalized communities and be able to contrast this with the ways in which dominant groups and the state represent themselves.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate the ability to critically discuss and write about texts about racial, gender, and sexual difference.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze the limitations of representations of people of color as having static, homogeneous, and deviant cultures within popular representations of social problems, social science discourse, and state policy.

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze how sexuality shapes processes of racial formation in relation to the specific issues covered in class.

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will have an understanding of how social movements pertaining to the issues covered in class have challenged state racism and be able to analyze the impacts these movements have had on state policy.

Women and Gender

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze how differences amongst women shape their access to citizenship and relationship to the state.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Introduced)

Use complex postcolonial African feminist and postcolonial theory in written and oral work

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Introduced)

Apply theories of race, transnational feminism, diaspora and culture to the literary analysis of texts

Describe how two or more ethnic groups have interacted in different historical contexts, and be able to discuss the dynamics of that relationship (Introduced)

Ability to engage in sensitive cross-cultural analysis from a non-Western perspective

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Introduced)

Apply theories of African decolonization and feminism to the literary and cultural study of texts

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of and current debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism, particularly with regard to racism and anti-racism (Introduced)

Use contemporary postcolonial and African feminist theory in all oral and written assignments

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Introduced)

Apply theories of critical and creative resistance found in postcolonial and de-colonial theory to all texts

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Introduced)

Apply theories of transnational feminist thought to all written and oral work

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Introduced)

Use contemporary African feminist theory in the critical analysis of texts

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Introduced)

Use postcolonial African feminist thought to deconstruct Western stereotypes of African women and their social realities

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Introduced)

Engage in woman-centered readings of texts through a postcolonial and transnational lens

WGSS 150: Gender, Diaspora and Social Issues in Indian Women's Literature and Cinema (3-4 Credits)

A literary, theoretical, and cinematic exploration of how Indian and Indian diasporic women writers and filmmakers from India, the Caribbean, North America, Mauritius, Britain and South Africa reconfigure &quot;migrating&quot; notions of race, class, gender, and nationhood. Issues discussed will include gender concerns, immigration and migration, diasporic citizenship, exile and (non)-belonging, queering diaspora, social inequality, among other topics. Authors and filmmakers include Ismat Chugtai, Mahasweta Devi, Shani Mootoo, Ananda Devi, Mira Nair, Deepa Mehta and others.

Meets the following Core requirements: Critical Analysis, International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced)

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

Critical Analysis

Students will critically analyze information and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will critically examine literary and cinematic texts using postcolonial theory, transnational feminist theory and cultural studies theory. They will apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of cinema and literature

Students will examine issues from multiple perspectives. (Practiced)

This course is interdisciplinary and cross-cultural in focus. The students will examine social and gender issues from postcolonial, feminist and diaspora theory perspectives

Students will engage in an exploration of the relationship between past systems of knowledge and present scholarly and creative approaches within and across disciplines. (Practiced)

Through discussions, papers and presentations students will examine the social and political contexts of Indian women's writing and cinema through the lens of postcolonial theory, transnational feminist thought, critical race theory, and cultural studies theory.

Students will consider how our understanding of significant questions and ideas is informed by the critical, scholarly, and creative approaches through which we approach those questions and ideas. (Practiced)

Students will examine key questions in postcolonial and transnational feminist theory and their applicability to diasporic identity, queer citizenship, anti-war activism, environmental justice, immigration and migration, indigenous identity, the gendering of poverty in urban spaces, among other social issues

Students will develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information. (Practiced)

Students will adhere to the rules of responsible scholarship by participating in discussions respectfully, documenting their sources through footnotes and bibliographies, and using academic sources in their papers and presentation

Students will engage as active participants in the College's intellectual community. (Practiced)

Students will create one oral presentation in which they will share their ideas with the class

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how they are taught to understand literature and cultural production in the West and the ability to contrast this understanding with a critical examination of postcolonial theory and feminist representation from India and the diaspora

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze literary/intellectual work from an Indian/Indian diasporic perspective and identify how these perspectives differ from dominant US perspectives

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of literary and cinematic production in francophone and anglophone locations in India and the diaspora

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of Indian literary and cultural production from India, Britain, Canada, Mauritius and the Caribbean

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how race, gender and power are socially constructed through processes of colonialism, nationalism, diaspora and postcolonialism

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of intersectionality theory and its applicability to postcolonial and diasporic feminist contexts

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways in which marginalized communities in India and diaspora have resisted the coloniality of power in feminist literature, postcolonial feminist theory and cinema

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized feminist communities in India and the diaspora have engaged in de-colonial struggles, social movements, political resistance, scholarly and creative work, and the development of diasporic solidarities

Students will use intersectionality theory in their written and oral assignments

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the theoretical aspects of feminist literary and cinematic production from India and the diaspora and be able to contrast this knowledge with they ways in which they understand their own social location. They will understand the significance of social privilege and positionality and communicate this understanding respectfully in their written and oral work.

General Education Goals:

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Practiced)

Students will consider cultural and literary production as dynamic and examine the inherent complexities in these systems of thoughtd

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of racial and ethnic formation and stratification in national and transnational contexts, considering the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality (Practiced)

Students will engage in intersectional theory to examine the history of racial and ethnic formations in national and transnational contexts

Describe how two or more ethnic groups have interacted in different historical contexts, and be able to discuss the dynamics of that relationship (Practiced)

Students will examine the works of Indian and Indian diasporic women's literary and cultural production and recognize cross-cultural systems of difference and comparison

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Practiced)

Students will analyze the work of Indian and Indian diasporic women writers and filmmakers in a comparative context to determine how they deal with issues of racism, discrimination and marginalization

Demonstrate knowledge of the history of and current debates surrounding the concept of multiculturalism, particularly with regard to racism and anti-racism (Practiced)

Students will use transnational postcolonial feminist theory in their analysis of literary and cinematic texts

Deploy the necessary critical tools to reflect on the artistic, literary, and intellectual traditions of marginalized groups-both nationally and internationally-and to appreciate the diversity of human thought and experience (Practiced)

Students will produce written work and create presentations that analyze the artistic and literary contributions of marginalized women's groups in India and the diaspora

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Practiced)

Students will analyze the cultural and literary production of women authors and filmmakers from India and the diaspora

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced)

Students will analyze key concepts in transnational South Asian feminist thought

Demonstrate familiarity with theories of gender (Practiced)

Students will analyze and discuss the work of leading feminist scholars from India and the diaspora

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

Students will examine the history of South Asian feminist literary and cultural production from India and the diaspora

Demonstrate familiarity with the history and effects of feminist thought (Practiced)

Students will apply postcolonial and transnational feminist theory to the analysis of texts and films from India and the diaspora

WGSS 172: American Indian and Pacific Islander Women (3-4 Credits)

This course will examine the contributions of American Indian women to their communities. While it is important to understand the present context in which these women struggle for their communities, it is also necessary to examine their changing roles within a historical situation. The focus will include political situations, literature, film, migrations from aboriginal land bases, and public policy.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

General Education Goals:

Historical Perspectives

Recognize both differences and similarities between past eras and the present (Practiced)

Develop an understanding of treaty history and why they remain in force

Describe the differences between American Indian people and other ethnic groups

Critique existing analyses of earlier eras (Practiced)

Critique earlier writings about American Indian people versus writings by them

Situate the writings from previous eras within a political and economic context

Use critical tools to assess historical source materials (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary source materials

Students will understanding history in relation to various Presidential administrations

Multicultural Perspectives

Demonstrate understanding of culture and cultural identities as dynamic rather than fixed categories, and describe the diverse ways in which they are produced, transformed, and maintained (Practiced)

Analyze early contact and responses from American Indian people

Demonstrate knowledge of colonialism and the imposition of new institutions

Demonstrate an understanding of historical trauma and how it applies to American Indian people

Describe how two or more ethnic groups have interacted in different historical contexts, and be able to discuss the dynamics of that relationship (Practiced)

Describe the early interactions between African and Native American people

Demonstrate knowledge of the different types of colonial contact, i.e., English versus French

Describe the interactions of colonists in the various regions of the country

Demonstrate an understanding of processes of group formation and describe how marginalized groups have used diverse strategies to challenge racism and discrimination (Practiced)

Demonstrate knowledge of post-colonial societal formations

Describe how African and Native American people formed societies that were separate yet cooperative

Women and Gender

Demonstrate an awareness of the distinctive contributions of women to culture or history or science (Practiced)

Demonstrate knowledge of military strategies employed by American Indian women

Demonstrate knowledge of American Indian women's role as keepers of tradition

Describe and understand the role of matriarchy within American Indian cultures

Demonstrate awareness of the impact of race, class, national origin, and other significant differences as well as the commonalties in women's experience (Practiced)

Critically analyze the role of immigration to American Indian people

Describe how American Indian women's roles were compromised by the Doctrine of Discovery, expeditions for gold

Analyze current and past social issues pertaining to gender (Practiced)

Demonstrate how intermarriage between Indigenous and Euro-Americans shifted balances of power, ownership of land, and child rearing practices

WGSS 175: Transnational Sexualities (3 Credits)

This seminar explores different approaches to theorizing sexuality from a transnational perspective. The class pays particular attention to the ways in which processes such as colonialism and globalization have shaped struggles for sexual liberation. The course covers topics such as globalization and sexual cultures, queer diasporas, sex work, sex trafficking, sex tourism, the politics of AIDS, militarism and sexual violence, and transnational social movements.

Meets the following Core requirements: International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Core Goals:

International Perspectives

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an understanding of the way that they are taught to understand gender and sexuality in the West and an ability to contrast this understanding with understandings of gender and sexuality from other parts of the world.

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Practiced)

Student will demonstrate an ability to analyze cultural production, social movements, and intellectual work from the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Students will be able to identify how these perspectives differ from dominant perspectives in the U.S.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how gender and sexuality operate in at least three different communities outside of the U.S.

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate familiarty with theoretical perspectives and cultural works from feminist and sexual minority groups in regions of the world outside the U.S.

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how race and gender were socially constructed through processes of colonialism and nationalism.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how race and gender intersect with sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, citizenship and nationality.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how marginalized communities have engaged in struggles against colonialism and racialized global capitalism through social movements, cultural production, scholarly research, and the development of transnational solidarities.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to engage the intellectual and theoretical contributions of transnational feminist and queer social movements and contrast them with dominant perspectives.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Practiced)

Students will demonstrate an ability to critically and respectfully discuss and write about texts about race, gender, and sexuality.

How do a variety of world spiritual traditions understand the relation between human and non-human entities--non-human animals, the environment, the cosmos. What are the implications of these understandings for our contemporary concepts of environmental sustainability? This course introduces students to the wealth of human perspectives on cosmology and the relationship of entities within those cosmologies. Students will engage in analyses and discussions of power relations between competing worldviews and the role of women’s leadership in global environmental movements

Meets the following Core requirements: International Perspectives, Race, Gender & Power

Students will reflect on their value systems and way of understanding the world and understand that these are not universal. (Introduced, Practiced)

Through papers, exams, and presentations, students will demonstrate an understanding of how a variety of world spiritual traditions understand the relation between human and non-human entities--non-human animals, the environment, the cosmos

Students will analyze the history, arts, politics, language, economy of a non-Western national context using scholarly or creative perspectives from the culture being studied and demonstrate the ability to contrast these with dominant US perspectives. (Introduced, Practiced)

Through papers, exams, and presentations, students will demonstrate an understanding of the cosmology of at least one of the following traditions from texts that originate within that tradition: Buddhism, Islam, Shinto, Judaism, Yup'ik, Nahua, Christianity, Wicca, Hopi, Lakota. The student will demonstrate the ability to contrast this tradition with dominant US perspectives

Students will demonstrate knowledge of at least one ethnic or national group and its experiences outside of the United States. (Introduced)

: Through papers, exams, and presentations, students will demonstrate an understanding of the cosmology of at least one of the following traditions from texts that originate within that tradition: Buddhism, Islam, Shinto, Judaism, Yup'ik, Nahua, Christianity, Wicca, Hopi, Lakota

Students will demonstrate knowledge of intellectual and/or creative contributions from at least one culture, country, or region outside of the United States. (Introduced)

Through papers and class presentations, students will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and contributions of at least one ecological organization of the following religio/political traditions using texts that originate within that tradition: Buddhism, Islam, Shinto, Judaism, Yup'ik, Nahua, Christianity, Wicca, Hopi, Lakota.

Race, Gender & Power

Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze race and gender as socially constructed, dynamic identity categories related to systems of power and privilege. (Introduced)

Through the study of a variety of human perspectives on cosmology and the relationship of entities within those cosmologies, students will engage in analyses and discussions of the dynamically constructed nature of race and gender particularly with regard to colonization and cooptation.

Students will analyze the ways in which race and gender intersect with other identity categories including sexuality, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, citizenship and nationality. (Introduced)

Students will theorize intersectionality in the context of different environmental struggles.

Students will demonstrate familiarity with the ways that marginalized communities have resisted structures of power through social movements, civic engagement, artistic expression, and scholarship. (Introduced, Practiced)

Students will engage with texts about different perspectives for understanding nature from marginalized communities and will look at examples of environmental justice movements led by marginalized communities.

Students will be able to engage with the intellectual and theoretical contributions of marginalized communities, and contrast them with dominant perspectives. (Introduced)

Students will compare the perspectives of marginalized communities on environmental crises with those of dominant groups.

Students will communicate effectively across differences with an understanding of their own social location. (Introduced)

Students will discuss texts from a range of perspectives and think critically about how their positionally affects the ways they think about categories like the human and nature.

WGSS 182: Feminist and Queer Theories (3 Credits)

An examination of contemporary theories of the identity and oppression of women and queer people, with particular attention to the mutual construction and the intersections of gender, class, race, nationality, and sexuality.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Mastered)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Mastered)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will learn to think critically. (Practiced, Mastered)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when engaged in experiential learning.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

WGSS 192: Senior Project (4 Credits)

Advanced independent investigative or creative work building on the student's courses and academic focus.

Students will understand how gender and sexuality are constructed in relation to one another and to other social structures. (Mastered)

Students will be able to define and employ the concept of intersectionality.

Students will be able to identify ways in which gender and sexuality are socially constructed.

Students will be able to analyze ways in which gender and sexuality are related to other social structures using feminist and queer studies methods and concepts.

Students will understand the role of gender and sexuality in cultures and histories. (Mastered)

Students will be able to identify the specific role of gender and sexuality in particular cultures.

Students will have an understanding of historical and cultural approaches to studying gender and sexuality as well as the way that gender and sexuality shape the production of knowledge about history and culture.

Students will be able to identify the role of gender and sexuality in particular histories.

Students will learn to think critically. (Mastered)

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when conducting original research.

Students will be able to apply feminist and/or queer concepts when analyzing scholarly and creative texts.

WGSS 282: Feminist Theories (3 Credits)

An examination of contemporary theories of women's identities and oppression, with particular attention to the mutual construction and the intersections of gender, class, race, nationality, and sexuality.

Brinda Mehta
Professor of French and Francophone Studies
Germaine Thompson Professorship in French Studies
Program Head of French and Francophone Studies
Mills Hall Room 326, 510.430.2212, mehta@mills.edu
Professional Interests: Nineteenth-century French literature, psychoanalysis and feminist critical theories, Caribbean and African francophone literatures